Michael Collins, Drug Policy Alliance:“The President should be applauded for today’s action, but as his term runs out he must step up the frequency and number of commutations”

President Barack Obama on Wednesday commuted the sentences of more than 200 people incarcerated in federal prison, almost all for drug offenses. This brings his total number of clemencies granted to 562 people. Many of those who received commutations on Wednesday were victims of the disparity in sentencing between crack and cocaine.

President Obama has been pushed to do more to release those serving time in prison under harsh drug laws.

“The President should be applauded for today’s action, but as his term runs out he must step up the frequency and number of commutations,” said Michael Collins, deputy director at the Drug Policy Alliance‘s Office of National Affairs. “We also need Congress to act. Paul Ryan has said that the House will vote on criminal justice reform when they return in September and Mitch McConnell must make the same commitment.”

The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act, spearheaded by Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), includes reductions in mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses, an expansion of the federal “safety valve” (which allows judges to use their discretion to sentence people below statutory mandatory minimums), and will expand prison programming and early release, among other things.

A similar bill, championed by Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), was introduced in the House. Both bills have strong bipartisan support, and are awaiting floor action.

Tony Papa, Drug Policy Alliance:“President Obama has stepped up to the plate once again giving many people a second chance in life”

In the House, Paul Ryan, has promised that there will be a vote in September on criminal justice reform legislation. McConnell has said nothing.

“President Obama has stepped up to the plate once again giving many people a second chance in life,” said Anthony Papa, media relations manager for the DPA, who was granted clemency in New York State in 1997 after serving 12 years under the notorious Rockefeller Drug Laws for a first-time, nonviolent drug offense.

“I ask Congress to follow Obama’s lead and create legislation that would give those who have fallen through the cracks of the criminal justice system a second chance to become productive tax paying citizens,” Papa said.

At least four pot prisoners — including one lifer — were among those receiving commutations from the President.

Marijuana prisoner Jose Carlos Arras of New Mexico, who was sentenced to almost 22 years in 2002 for importation of 100 kilos or more of cannabis, was among those whose sentences was commuted. Marijuana lifer Ramon Gonzales of Texas, who was sentenced back in 2009 for distributing 4506.65 kilograms of pot, also received a commutation, as did Luciano Murga of Florida, who got a 20-year sentence in 2005 for distributing 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana; and Cedric Dewayne Stephens of Texas, who’d been sentenced to 10 years in 2011 for distributing at least 1,000 kilograms of weed.

This, from The White House, is a full list of the 214 inmates, most of whom will be released Dec. 1:

· Joshua Boyer – Tampa, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; possession of a firearm not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: 288 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (November 27, 2001)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

· Mark Anthony Clark – Rockford, IL
Offense: Conspiracy; possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting; possession with intent to distribute amphetamine; possession of a firearm by a felon/fugitive from justice and aiding and abetting; Northern District of Texas
Sentence: Life imprisonment; six years’ supervised release (September 1, 1995)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months’ imprisonment.

· Jimmie Clyde Collins – Joshua, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute; possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and aiding and abetting; using a drug involved premises and aiding and abetting; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; Northern District of Texas
Sentence: 370 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (February 11, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

· Dewayne L. Comer – Syracuse, NY
Offense: Engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise; conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base (two counts); possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with the intent to distribute cocaine; Northern District of New York
Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (December 8, 1997)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

· Christopher M. Dees – Pensacola, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $1,000 fine (September 1, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 262 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

· Jose Del Valle – Philadelphia, PA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; possession with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and aiding and abetting; Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (September 7, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

· Thomas Duncan – Columbia, TN
Offense: Possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; felon in possession of a firearm; possession of five grams or more of cocaine base with intent to distribute; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 352 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (September 23, 2002)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

· William Ennis – El Paso, TX
Offense: Conspiring to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, to wit: cocaine more than five kilograms; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, to wit: cocaine more than five kilograms; using a communication device to facilitate the commission of a felony; Western District of Texas
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $5,000 fine (July 17, 2003)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

· Kenneth Evans – Fort Worth, TX
Offense: Conspiracy; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base and aiding and abetting; use and carry firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and aiding and abetting; Northern District of Texas
Sentence: Life imprisonment plus 60 months; five years’ supervised release (August 20, 1993)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months’ imprisonment.

· James Oliver Fambro – Decatur, GA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release, $500 fine (April 5, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

· Toddrick Onterio Franklin – St. Petersburg, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm in and affecting interstate commerce; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 120 months’ supervised release (March 21, 2003)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

· Steven R. Hardy – Tampa, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than 50 grams of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of more than 50 grams of cocaine base; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (November 14, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

· Donella Marie Harriel – Stuart, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; District of South Carolina
Sentence: 264 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (March 17, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months’ imprisonment and 10-year term of supervised release commuted to a four-year term of supervised release.

· Benjamin Harris – Dallas, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute MDMA, cocaine and 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; Middle District of Louisiana
Sentence: 226 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (February 23, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months’ imprisonment.

· Vince Cordell King – Detroit, MI
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (two counts); using or carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of a firearm; Eastern District of Michigan
Sentence: Life plus five years’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (May 21, 1996)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

· Josephine Ledezma – Rialto, CA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a Schedule II controlled substance (cocaine); being aided and abetted by others, did unlawfully, knowingly, and intentionally possess and cause to be possessed, with intent to distribute, a Schedule II controlled substance (cocaine); Western District of Tennessee
Sentence: Life imprisonment (October 30, 1992)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2017.

· Edwin M. Mack – Fort Myers, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base, “crack cocaine”; distribution of a quantity of cocaine base, “crack cocaine” (two counts); possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base, “crack cocaine”; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of an unregistered firearm (incorrectly listed on the judgment as possession of a firearm by a convicted felon); Middle District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (November 1, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

· Artis Sangria McGraw – Saluda, SC
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; use of fiream during and in relation to a crime of violence; felon in possession of a firearm; possession of a firearm with obliterated serial numbers; District of South Carolina
Sentence: 270 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (September 30, 2002)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

· Martin Brandon Moore – Fort Lauderdale, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base and more than 5 kilograms of a mixture and substance containing cocaine; principal to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and more than 50 grams of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (May 30, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months’ imprisonment.

· Michael L. Moore – Mount Vernon, NY
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine; distribution of five kilograms or more of cocaine; Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (June 5, 1998); amended to 292 months’ imprisonment (October 27, 2015)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

· Erenio C. Perez – Colorado Springs, CO
Offense: Conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting the manufacture in excess of one kilogram of methamphetamine; possession and aiding and abetting the possession of ephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine (two counts); possession and aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (two counts); District of Colorado
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (April 19, 1996)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

· Jack Dewhan Randolph – Charlotte, NC
Offense: Possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and aiding and abetting the same (two counts); Western District of North Carolina
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; three years’ supervised release (November 29, 2000)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

· Thomas R. Ross – Fairfield, CA
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine; conspiracy to distribute pseudoephedrine with knowledge or reasonable cause to believe that it would be used to manufacture a controlled substance; distribution of pseudoephedrine with knowledge or reasonable cause to believe it would be used to manufacture a controlled substance and aiding and abetting; Eastern District of California
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (April 26, 2001)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on September 2, 2016.

· Jerome Rowser – Birmingham, AL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of firearms; Northern District of Alabama
Sentence: Life plus 60 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (August 19, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

· Jimmy L. Walden, Jr. – Morristown, TN
Offense: Possession with the intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine; possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of marijuana; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: Life imprisonment (May 19, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

· Billy Whitehead – North Little Rock, AR
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; aiding and abetting the distribution of less than five grams of cocaine base (two counts); distribution of more than five grams of cocaine base (two counts); aiding and abetting the distribution of more than five grams of cocaine base (two counts); Eastern District of Arkansas
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (April 21, 2000)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

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